Detachable-unit circuit controller for interlocking machines



Aug. 26 1924. 1,506,179

W. K. HOWE DETACHABLE UNIT CIRCUIT CONTROLLER FOR INTERLOGKING MACHINES Filed Nov. 2, 1920 Fla]. 6

1a wawm Patented Aug. 26, 1924.

UNITED STATES nane PATENT OFFICE.

WIN'IHROP K. HOWE, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOB TO GENERAL BAILVIAY SIGNAL COMPANY, OF GATES, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEVI YORK.

DETACHABLE-UNI'S CIRCUIT Application filed November 2, 1920.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VVINTrIRor K. Hown, citizen of the United States, residing at Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Detachable-Unit Circuit Controllers for interlocking Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to unit circuit controllers for electric interlocking machines.

In the interlocking machines now commonly in use, the several circuit controllers for governing the operation of switches and signals are or the unit construction and are arranged horizontally in a row or bank. Each of these circuit controllers has connected to it a number of wires; and on account o'tthe general arrangement found essential in practice, these wires are run underneath the bank of the circuit controllers, usually to some suitable terminal board. Other wircs also run from the terminal board to the indication magnets and other electrical devices of the interlocking machines,-with the result that the space underneath the circut controllers is taken up with a large number of wires. Heretott'ore it has been the common practice to fasten the unit circuit controllers to their frame by screws: or the like, accessible only from underneath the circuit controllers. ll ith this arrangement, when it becomes desirable to replace a worn or defective contact spring, or other part of the circuit controller unit, it is very dii'ticult to do on account of the number of wires in the way. Also, the disconnection or displacement of wires likely to occur during this operation would sometimes result in false operation of the machine and serious accidents, so that it has been considered desirable by some railroads to cut the whole machine out of service when making such repairs, but this causes delays '7 and results in postponing the needed repairs and adjustments until convenient to cut the machine out of service.

lVith a view of remedying these ditticulties, the primary object of the present invention is to devise an improved construction of a unit circuit controller which can be easily and quickly detached for repair or adjustment without deranging the wires of the machine or interferring with its operation.

CONTROLLER FOR INTER-LOCKING lvIACI-IINES.

Serial No. 421,407.

Other specific objects and advantages oi: my improved construction will appear herematter as the description progresses; and the novel features of the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims.

1 have devised my improvement in connection with an interlocking machine. of well known construction, familiar to those skilled in the art, and consequently lhave shown in the accompanying drawings only those parts of the complete machine necessary to explain the nature of my improvement.

In these drawings, Fig. 1. is a plan view of two circuit controller units embodying the present invention, showing parts of their supporting brackets and the levers by which these circuit controllers are operated;

Fig. 2 is a side view of one of the circuit controller units, and partly in vertical section, as indicated by the line 2-2 in i;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line in Fig. l; and

Fig. 4: is a modification showing my invention applied to four-tier circuit controllcr.

Referring to the accompanying drawiu I l designates a portion of the brackets oi an interlocking machine which carry the of unit circuit controllers. In practice sereral these brackets F are arranged vertically at intervals lengthwise ot the machine. At the upper er ges of the brackets are fastened by screws or the like (not shown) two parallel bars 1 and 2 to which the circuit controller units are fastened a manner hereinafter 'JXPlZllllGd.

Each circuit contioller unit compr s a frame made up of two end blocks B, or rubber or other suitable insulating mater ml. and upper and lower guide bars 3 and 4, which are fastened to said end blocks by screws 5. Two or more pairs contact springs SS are secured to each end block. These contact springs constructed the same, and each is provided with a flange 6 at one end, and is fastened at that end to a. corresponding block by two screws 7 and 8. The body of each contact spring S is bent back upon itself as shown in Fig. 1.

A contact block 0, of hard pressed fiber, or other suitable insulating material. iormed with grooves in its upper and lower ends fitting over the guide bars 3 and i. The corners of this contact block C are under-cutor rabbeted as shown in Fig. l, to

receive the bent ends of contact pieces 9. One end of an operating rod 10 passes through the contact block C and is adjustably clamped thereto by nuts 11. This operating rod 10 passes through a large hole 12 in one end block B, and is formed at its free end with an eye which fits over apin 13 in the lever L, said operating rod being held in place by a suitable cotter pin.

The circuit controller units above described are arranged in rows or banks as shown in Fig. 1, and since space is an important matter in machines of this kind, the units are placed as close together as practicable. In order to prevent improper electrical connection between the parts of adj a cent units, an insulator 14;, with grooves to receive the heads. of the screws 8, is fitted between the end blocks B of adjacent units, and a panel 15, preferably of glass, tits in narrow grooves in said insulators.

Each end block B is fastened by a screw 16 to the corresponding bar 1 or 2. This screw 16 is provided with a suitable lock washer; and its head bears against a square spacer 17, preferably made of suitable insulating material, which is seated in a recess or groove in the bottom of the opening 12 in the corresponding end block, as shown in Fig. 3. In the two-tier circuit controller shown in Figs. 1 and 2, each end block B is provided with a hole or passage 18 above the screw 16, so thata screw-driver or similar tool may be inserted from above, and the screws 16 taken out. The same construction is also used in the three-tier circuit controller, that is, one having three pairs of contact springs, one above the other; but where the circuit controller has four or more tiers, as shown in Fig. 4, a horizontal guide rod 19 for the contact block C is used. This guide rod is fixed to said contact block C and guided in holes in the end blocks B. In this case, an inclined groove or channel 20, is cut in the outer end face of each end block 13, as shown in Fig. 4, to allow access to the screws 16 without removing the horizontal guide bar 19.

To remove the circuit controller unit constructed in accordance with the present invention, the operating rod 10 is detached from the lever L, the nuts 11 loosened, and the rod taken out. The top guide bar 3 is removed, and then a screw-driver is inserted in the hole 18, or the inclined groove 20, as the case may be, and the screws 16 fastening each end block B are loosened or taken out, whereupon the whole circuit controller unit may be lifted out (the wires being long and loose enough to permit this), thereby giving ready access to all parts and permitting easy replacement of worn or broken contact springs S or other parts. In the four-tier construction shown in Fig. 1, it is not necessary to remove the top guide bar 3.

The specific embodiment of the invention illustrated is susceptible of modificationfand adaptation in practice without departing from the invention.

lVhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In a unit circuit controller structure for interlocking machines of the type shown and described, in which the circuit controller units are arranged close together side by side in a row and are fastened to spaced frame members, end blocks having central openings alined horizontally and adapted to receive an operating rod, each end block having a hole extending downward from said central opening, screws in said holes and fastening said end blocks to said frame members, each of said end blocks also having a passage in its upper portion disposed to permit the insertion of a tool from above for turning the screw, whereby any circuit controller unit may be removed from above without disturbing adjacent units.

2. A unit circuit controller comprising, end blocks fastened to a suitable supporting frame by screws, said blocks being provided with openings giving access to said screws from above, a movable contact block, and a bar for guiding said block and covering said openings.

3. A unit circuit controller comprising, a movable contact block supported for oscillatory movement, a stationary end block provided with a longitudinal opening to accommodate a rod for operating said movable block and having a hole extending downward therefrom from the bottom of said block, said hole being adapted to receive a screw for fastening the end block to a supporting frame, said end block also having an opening in its upper portion permitting a tool to be inserted from above to turn said screw.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

IVINTHROP K. IIOIVE. 

